Russia has yet to address key provisions of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, which entered into force in Russia in April 2012. It has not yet fully implemented recommendations for strengthening its framework for combating foreign bribery and should be more proactive in detecting, investigating and prosecuting foreign bribery cases.

New Zealand must significantly increase its efforts to detect, investigate and prosecute foreign bribery. Since joining the Convention over 12 years ago, New Zealand has not prosecuted any cases of foreign bribery and only four allegations have surfaced to date. Outdated perceptions that New Zealand individuals and companies do not bribe may have also undermined detection efforts.

OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría said that while OECD countries breathed a sigh of relief following the U.S. Congress’ steps to lift the debt ceiling and to end the partial federal government shutdown a longer term solution will need to be found.

Costa Rica adhered today to OECD legal instruments on Internet governance and international business conduct, demonstrating its willingness to align its policies to best practices in these areas and work together with the Organisation.

After a decade of relatively strong growth, Latin America is facing headwinds associated with declining trade, a moderation in commodity prices and increasing uncertainty over external financial conditions, according to the latest Latin American Economic Outlook jointly produced by the OECD Development Centre, the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN ECLAC) and CAF - Development Bank of Latin America.

OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría will present two new major publications on Brazil during news conferences on 22 October in Brasilia. He will also hold a series of high-level meetings with Brazilian government officials.

OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría will visit Santiago on 23-24 October. Mr Gurría will present a major report on the Chilean economy, hold meetings with President Sebastián Piñera and his government, deliver two major addresses and participate in a signing ceremony marking Chile’s adherence to an international convention on mutual administrative assistance in tax matters.

OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría today welcomed Brazil’s further engagement with the Organisation’s world-leading global education assessment programme (PISA) during a signing ceremony in Brasilia with Brazil’s Minister for Education Aloízio Mercadante.

Brazil’s strong economic growth has helped cut the youth unemployment rate over the past decade to levels below those of most OECD countries. Increased investment in education and vocational training is also helping young people get a foot in the jobs market, according to a new OECD report.

Poland has become the 28th member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), the leading international forum for bilateral providers of development co-operation.